Remarks on the Kaieteur Savannah. 235 
quite hide ; and these examples often present the cu- 
rious, illusive spectacle of two plants with their stems 
cut off standing one on the other, the under one reversed 
and dead. It flowers at various sizes, depending abso- 
lutely on whether the situation be favourable or 
not to healthy development. The age when this takes 
place, I found nothing to enable me to determine. It is so 
many years, however, that this Brocchinia might be 
regarded according to the popular fallacy concerning the 
Agaves as a " century plant." The panicle is several 
feet high, much branched, with pale inconspicuous flowers. 
In the performance of the reproductive function the 
plant dies. 
A second new species of Brocchinia, lacking the 
interest which imposing proportions secure, and 
indeed a peculiar contrast to the last in every detail 
of habit, yet a very striking plant too, is principally 
confined to the marshy or very wet ground of the central 
region of the savannah. Unlike the former, moreover, 
it is not gregarious, but is scattered all over the open 
swamp. Its habit, too, is singular. Each plant stands 
alone, stiffly erect, about eighteen inches high, with no 
apparent stem above ground, and convolute equally 
from bottom to top like a roll of paper. Only two or 
three leaves are developed, two of which, the outer 
ones, are invariably of equal size. This accounts for 
the convolute habit, whereby the plants appear as 
so many stakes cut to a length and driven here 
and there into the ground. If several leaves were 
developed the outer ones would necessarily have to 
spread more or less from the axis to give room to those 
